PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA . . . On Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – the Prince William County Police Department and the Manassas City Police Department will join with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and community groups to provide you with a safe and legal way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. Simply bring them to the collection sites at Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center, Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center, or a NEW location: the Charlie T. Deane Central District Station (5036 Davis Ford Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192).

Unused or expired prescription medications are a public-safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.

Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor's supervision.

The majority of those abusing prescription drugs, including teens, get them from family and friends – and the home medicine cabinet.

Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused, or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.

Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs. But if a program is not available:

Take the meds out of their bottles;

Mix them with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds;

Seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw that away.

During this initiative, ONLY prescription and over-the-counter solid-dosage medications (i.e. tablets and capsules) will be accepted.

Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. There are solutions for those who use these devices. If you are a Prince William County resident, you can take them to the Landfill for proper disposal. Put injectables in a homemade "sharps box" (a clean, empty detergent bottle works just fine), seal the top with duct tape and write SHARPS on it. When you get to the Landfill, tell the employee at the check-in what you have and you will be directed to the bright yellow box for drop-off. For more information, view a Prince William County Landfill document outlining medical sharps disposal at: http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/publicworks/trash/Documents/Medical%20Sharps%20Disposal%204-2-2014.pdf

If you live in the City of Manassas and want more information on disposing of medical sharps, please call the Trash Line at 703-257-8252; if you live in the City of Manassas Park and want more information on disposing of medical sharps, please call the Transfer Station at 703-331-0800.

Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will also not be accepted during National Take-Back Day.

To protect your privacy you can use a marker to blacken out your personal information on the labels, if you are unable to peel them off, prior to turning them in.

For more information, please call the Prince William County Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit at 703-792-7270.

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